Emergency traffic barrier



GEEN il'. KEENN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CE' TRAFFIC BAEBEE.

Apniieeticn e Jennery 19, 151%. Serial No.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that fi, dem Kennels, e citizen ofthe United States, and e resident of New York, in the county of New York and State o New Yorlr, have invented certain new and useful .improvements in en to provide a barrier designed to be employed on highways, such 'es on the streets of cities, at railway crossings and elsewhere, for vpreventing the occurrence of accidents to persons und travelling vehicles by causing their movements to be timely obstructed from moving across the highway, and which is also of a form whereby travelling vehicles in particular on arriving at e dangerous locelity after the berrier liesbeen positioned for protective purposes may in emergency be enabled to pass by forcing the burrier upon the highway to allow the vehicle to travel thereover for being freed ot the im pending danger. The invention resides mainly in the provision of two supports adapted to be fixed in spaced relation above :L trough provided across e highway, and on the supports is move-bly carried e iiexible guard line for being raised above and low ered to the highway across the space between the supports. On the central portion of the guard line between the supports is provided means autolnaticziliy operetive to lower end 'vieldingly hold the guard line normally et the entrance of the trough, and spaced posts are provided for being pivctslly mounted between the supports so as to be swungiinwardly and outwardly of the trough to and from'verticai positions for' elevating the portion oi' the guard line between the supports yieldingly above the surface of the highway for serving to obstruct the passage of persons und vehicular traffic at the locality,l

Other objects of the invention ere to construct each post with bingedly connected lower and upper parte whereby the upper parts when in vertical. positions above the highway may be swung transversely of the trough tothe highway by the guard line being likewise forced to the highway, in order to permit especially travelling vehicles when in immediate/danger 'following the elevation of the guerd line to swing the guard line and move tb-ereover to safety; und to provide emergency 'traiic barrier of e, simple, eti?.- cient end durable construction which .may be mede of eppropriete meteriei in any suit eblesize.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specicetion in which similar characters ci reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the descriptione ln the drawing, Figure l' e fragmentary view, partly in section, .taken through e, trough or excavation provided across c. high'- Wey, showing one form of rey improved emergency treiiic barrier applied thereto.

Fig. 2 isc fragmentary view showing e plan taken on the line 2 2 o sid.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary deteil vsectional view teken on the iine 3-3 of Fig. 1. v

The apparatus or barrier two supports or. uprights or posts 10 and ll which in practice are adapted to be suitably mounted in fxed vertical positions in proximity to the ends of e trough or excavation, es 12, when provided across a highway, es 13, suchl as a railway crossing or street crossing ci u city or elsewhere for travel of pedestrians and vehicles, and the trough muy be oif a, length so that it extends ucross the sid-1f" walks or pathways, as M, l5, for 2pedestriuns when provided along euch side of the highwey, iilhen the epperetus is employed on e. highway having the sidewalks er pathways 14, 15 the supports 10, 11 are mounted in the trough 12 at the outermost sides of the path Ways, and the supports ere of lengths so that their upper ends terminate et suitable heights above the surface of the highway, while the trough is preferably of greet/er depth than the lengths ofthe portionsoi the supports above the l'iighvveyt The supports or uprights 10, 11 ere of similar formations, and in the upper end* of @zich support may be e groove or pessege 16, und rctetsbly mounted in the groovesof the supports .may be pulleys 17, 18. Biucketed, et 19, to opposite sides of the supports, and under the grooves 16 eierevolvable pulleys 20, ill, und carried on the supports is u gne/reci line 22. This guard line muy be of any suitable iiexible material, such es e cable or chain El which is of e,

"of or the trough. lo.

length so that it is moveloly cerriedon tire supports over the pulleys l?, i8 engi 202 2l with its central portion spanning the high" Way .13 end sidewalks 142,15, :incl the guard line is of e length to permit o bei .0" lowered (D to the entrance of .tire trough. l2 Without the end portions olf line separating 'from the pulleys of the supports.

The cable or @listinl 22A is to be lo normeliy disposed in the entr-ence oit the trough l2 by ineens of one or a suitable number of Weights, as 23, escli oit which are suspended from the'msin cross line .222L by e flexible line or eliein 2%. The lines or chains i5 2li of lengths so that the Weights will eutornaticaily more ort'nwarclly in the trough sucient alistanee yieldiiigly liold cable 22a et tlie entrance oit the tro-ugh, and the lines 2srnziy also be oit lengths so zo that when the cable .22a is elevated above the trough to e. distance approximately on simile? longitudinal glane to the upper ends of the supports the Weiglts willv still remein the tro'iiglio Jn `tlie o' 25 cable 22l ore two Weights 2, 26 n ,icli

automatically movable upwardly and downd were;r in the trough 12, .and these wei its are rented to partly oonnternolenee weights 23 in order to relievetlie strain on the liable 22S when elevated above tire biglie waye Serving es mesnsfto eivete the guard line 22 above t 'trough ior obstructing trot/el on the i'ilgliwsyin emergency, in. the

upper ports o? the trmgli i2 sjecent the supports lo, are pivot/edi, et 2?, the lower enols of two posts 29 which ere pretm erf/ably of similar formations Well oeing of heights similar to lielr`its of the 4o supports l0, il. the pivotedends of the posts'28, 29 and extoning downwardly in the trough i2 two segment-el worms 3Q, preferably oi the shapes ot" oi'leflrarits, sse Worms ere of so 'toet one ot eges riispose 'Wise of the 'trough et :its entren mental Worms are also rlisposeo so nos ,served toothed ed are in opposed relation jas if ooserl tor/arri tlie center trough ot Water e,.ccn,mnla,ting therein, eetl,

`in the trough on bottom ioelow s :Worms: 2%. 3i ne numbeno @meer sensing the posts 2S, 29

store the highway, ln,

:- messes bearings, as 37. .lourneled in these bear ings is o, shaft 38 of s length so that it extends lengthwise of the trough under the segmental Worms as Well as extending some distancebeyond the segmental lWorin 30. On the shaft 38 are tWo spaced Worms 39, Ll0 which are in mesh with the segmental worms 30, 31. The shaft 38 may be Adriven by any suitable power generating. Ineens,

though l preferto employ in the trough Lit the extending end of the shaft an electrio motor, :is 4l, of an appropriate reversible type. On the drive shaft of the motor may be a. pinion 42 which is in mesh with a gear 43 held on the shaft 38. "When the' motor is driven accordingly the pinion 42 and gear will be rotated for driving tliel shaft 38 and Worms 39, 40. The segmental Worms S0, 31 will then 1ne-pertly rotated for causing the posts 28,^29 to be simultaneously swung to lowered 'positions toward each other in the entrance of the trough. The Weiflits oit the guard line Will then autoniatically move clownwardiyin the trough causing the chain 22 to loe 'lowered t0 the' entrance or' the trough on the posts so thaty treiio on the liighwey may travel over the terrier. With the reverse operation oit the motor il the pinion 42, geeri and shaft 38 will be reversely riven for moving the segmental Worms upwardly in the trough, and in turn the posts 28, 29 will be swung upwardly to Vertical positions above the trough. -`ili7itli the upwerel movement of the posts the chain 22a will be engegeclby the pulleys 33, 34 oi the posts for being elevated across the highway between the supports l0, Cil to obstruct the travel of The Weights 25, 26'

trnilic lin emergency. ot the guarrl line tlien serves by their auto rustic downward movement in the trough to the strain of tte Weights 23 on the eliiiin 22u to permit the olielin 22u to be relatively readily elevated.

l'n ori'ler to prevent ersons rorn attempting' to more under t e chain' 22 on the v pedestrian 'pathways when 'the guard line witted, l may provide two correspondinggutes, as li, 4:5. any' suitable construction, though eachv illustrated lies s fixed barrer post 46 entenlir'ig npwsrclly above the highway- 'from the straight angeln/edge' of each of 'the segmental Worms 30,' lwliioh is adapted to' be positioned at the' entrance of. the trough when the guard line is elevated, and extending from the post 46 of each ofl the gestes to the segmental Worm/of the gate ere e number of' eurvedrofls or bars '47.;

The .posts 46 of the gates are in spaced nroxirriity to the posts 28, 29, and the rods Zi? ere relatively spaced apart at distances so that the gates 'when elevitei shove the trough Will. extend across the @stairway 14, lo tlie highway toprevonti pedestrians The gates may be of.

ift

rlOl) from crossing under the chain 22Bof the guard line. The gates 44, are fixed to the segmental worms 30, 3l to permit the gates to be swung into the trough when the segmental worms are operated, as above explained, for allowing the guard line-:2Q to lower to the trough..

For the purpose of permitting the chain 22 and the chains 24: to be swung to the surface of the highway when the guard line is elevated so that a travelling vehicle when in danger by failure to move beyond the barrier before being raised may pass to safety, each of the posts 28, 29 are preferably formed of a lower portion 48' and an upper portion 49. The lower' portion Blof each of the posts Q8, 29 includes the pivoted part 27,

while the upper portion of each post cmbraces practically the whole of the portion adapted to extend above the trough when the posts are swung to vertical positions. The lower end part of one face of the upper portion of each of the posts may be cut-out, as at 50, and the ends of the lower and upper portionoi each 'post are pivoted together, at 51, to allow the upper portions of both posts to be swung 'n one direction Iupon the highway, In the cut-outs 50 of the posts may be provided cushions or springs 52. which are tensioned for serving to yieldingly force the upper portions of the posts when swung upon the highway to their vertical positions above the trough. Thus when a travelling vehicle on approaching the guard line after its 4elevation from a direction toward the faces of the posts opposite to the springs 52, 53, and in emergency the vehicle may be caused to contact with the chain 22a. The chain and the upper parts of the posts will then' be swung on their pivots against the tension of the springs 52, 58 to the sprface of the highway for allowing the vehicle to pass over the chain to safety. After the i1ehicle has passed entirely over the chain the tension of the springs will cause the posts to swing upward/to their normal positions and the posts will likewise carry the chain upwardly across the highway and sidewalk.

ln the foregoing description, have embodied the preferred form of my invention, but I do not wish to be understood as limitingl myself thereto, as am aware that modlfications may be made therein without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, there 7ore, l reserve to myself the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scopp thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I

l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. An emergency traffic barrier, comprisingtwo'supports for being linedin spaced relation above a trough provided across a. l'iighway, a flexible guard line movably oarried on the supports for being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space highway, a exible guard line movably carv ried on the supports for being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space between the supports, means on the central portion of the guard line between the sup-` ports, automatically operative to lower and.

vieldingly hold the guard line normally at the entrance of the trough, means at the ends of the guard line, automatically operative to partly counterbalance the force of the pull of the automatic lowering means imposed on the central., portion of the guard'line, and means operative Jfor elevating the portion of the guard line between the supports yieldingly' above the surface of the highway.

3. An emergency traffic barrier, comprising two supports for being fixed in spaced relation above a trough provided acrossA a highway, a flexible guard line movably carried on the supports for being raised above and lowered to 'the highway across the space `,etween the supports, means on' the central portion ot the guard line between the supports` automatically yoperative tb lower and yieldingly hold the guard line normally at the entrance of the trough, means operative' for elevating the portion of the guard line' between the supports yieldingly above the surface of the .highway and power driving means operative for operating said elevating means.

4. An emergency traflicV barrier, comprising two supports for being fixed in spaced relation above a trough provided across la highway, a flexible guard line Inova-bly carried on the supports for being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space between the supports, means on the central 'portion of the'guard line between'the sup! ports, automatically operative to lower and yieldingly hold ,the guard line normally at the entrance of the trough, means at vthe ends of the guard line, automatically operative to partly counterbalancethe force of the pull of the automatic lowering means imposed on the central portion of the guard line, means operative for elevating. the portion ofthe guard line between the supports yieldingly above the surface of the highway,'and power driving means operative for operating said elevating means," A, 1 '5. Anremergency; trafberrler, compris,-

* nel ing two supports for bein/ug;A fixed in spaced v ried on the supports for being raised abovel and lowered to the vhighway across the space between the supports, means on the central portion of the guard line between the supports automatically operative to lower and yieldinglyrhold the guard line normally at W the entrance of the trough, and spaced posts pivoted between the supports for being,- swung inwardly and outwardly of the trough to and from vertical positions for elevating the portion ci 'the guard line between the supports yieldingh` above the surface of the highway and each post having hingedly connected lower and upper parts whereby theaipper parts of all-the posts when in vertical positions above the highway may be swung transversely of the trough to the highway by the guard line being' likewise forced to the highway. 6. An emergencytralie barrier, comprising two supports for being fixed in spaced highway, a 4flexible guard line movably carried on'the supports for being raisedabove and lowered to thehighway across the space between the supports, means on the central portion of the guard line between the supports, automatically operative to lower and yieldingly hold the guard line normally at the entrance of 'the trough, means at the ends ot the guard line, automatically operative to partly counterbalance the force of the pull of the automatic lowering means imposed on the central portion ot the guard line, and spaced posts pivoted between the supports t'or being swung inwardly and outwardly of the trough to and :from vertical positions for elevating the v'portion ot the guard line between the supports yieldingly abovey the surface of Athe highway and each post having hingedly connected lower and upper parts whereby the upper parts of all the postsl when in vertical positions above the highway may be swunff transversely of the 'trough to the highway the guard line being lil'ewis'e Jforced to the' highway. 50 7.' du emergency traiic barrier, comprising two supports for beingxed in spaced relation above a trough provided across a highway. a 'flexible guard line movably carried on the supports for being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space between the supports, means on the central portion of the guard line between the supports, automatically operativeto lower and yieldingly hold the guard line normally at to pivoted between the supports for being swung inwardly and outwardly of the trough to and from vertical positions for elevating the portion oi the guard line be- U5 tween the supports yieldingly above the relation above a-trough provided across a' the entrance ot the trough, spaced posts.

power driven means operative forr simultaneously ,raising and lowering the posts into andv out of the trough.

8. An emergency trallic barrier, comprising two supports "for being fixed in spaced relation above a trough provided ,across a highway, a flexible guard line movable 4ca'rried on the supports for being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space between the supports, means on the central. portion of the guard line betweenpthesupports, automatically operative 4to lower and yieldingly hold the guard line normally at the Yentrance of the trough, vmeans at, the

ends of the guard line, automatically oper-` ative 4to partly counterbalancethe force of V the pull ofthe automatic -lowering means* imposed on the cent-ral portion of the guard line, spaced posts pivoted between the supports for being swung inwardly and out-l wardly of the trough to and from vertical positions for elevating the portion of `the guard line between the supports yieldingly above the surface of the highway and each post having hingedl-y connected lower and upper parts whereby the upper'parts'of all the posts when in vertical positions above the highway may be swung transversely-of the trough to the highway by the guard line being'likewisc forced to the highway, and

power driven means operative for simulta`` neously raising and lowering the posts into and out of the trough.,

9. An emergency traffic barrier, comprising two supports for being` fixed in spaced relation above a trough provided across a lim' highway, a flexible guard line movably carried on thel supportsl for being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space between the supports, weights on the cen-ftral portion of the guard' line between the supports, automatically movable `to lower and yieldinglv hold the guardrline normally at the. entrance of the trough, and spaced posts pivoted, between the supports for be'- tween the supports yieldingly above the surwherebyl the upper parts of all the posts when in' vertical positions above the high.-

way mayk be swung transversely of the mg swung inwardly and outwardly of the 'Y trough to and from vertical positions tor elevating the portion of the guard line be.

troughy to the highway by the guard line bel inglikewise `crrced tothe highway.

10. An emergency traffic barrier, .comprising two supports for being fixed in spaced Lenawee y ried on the supports for being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space between thesupports, weights on the central portion of the guard line between the supports, automatioallyy movable to lower and yieldingly hold the guard line normally at the entrance of the trough, spaced posts pivoted between the supports for being swung inwardly and outwardly of the trough to and from vertical positions 'orelevating the portion of the guard line betweenzthe supports yieldingly 'above the surface of the highway and each post having` hingedly connected lower and upper parts whereby the upper parts of all the posts when in vertical positions above the highway may be swung transversely of the trough to the highway by the guard -line being likewise forced to the highway, and power driven means operative for simultaneously raising and lowering the posts into and out of the trough.

1l.. An emergency tralic barrier. 'comprising two supports for being fixed in spaced relation above a trough provided across a highway. a Horrible guard line movablv carried on the supports for being raiscdubove and lowered to the highway across the space between the supports, weights suspended on the central portion of the guard line bctweeu the supports, automatically movablein the trough to lower and yieldingzly hold the guard line normally at the entrance of the trough, weights at the ends of the guard line.l for also automatically moving' in the trough to partly counterbalance the force of the pull of the weights imposed on the central portion of the guard line, and spaced posts pavoted between the supports for being swung inwardly and outwardly of the trough to and from vertical positions for elevating the portion of the guard line between the supports yieldingly above the surface of' the highway and'each post having hingedly connected lower and upper parts whereby the upper parts of all the 4postsl when in vertical positions above the highv way may be swung transversely of the 50 trough to the highway by the .guard line beinglikewise forced to the highway.

l2. An emergency trafc barrier, comprising two supports for being fixed in spaced relation above a trough provided across a 55 highway, a flexible guard line movably carried on the supports' 'tor being raised above and lowered to the highway across the space between the supports, weights suspended on the central portion of the guard line between O0 the supports for automatically moving in the trough to lower and yieldingly hold the guard line normally at the entrance of the trough, weights at the ends of the guard line Afor also automatically moving in the i trough to partly omnitel-balance the force o't' the pull of the weights imposed on the ccntral portion of .the guard line, two spaced posts pivoted between the supports for being' swunginwardly and outwardly of thc 'i0 trougl'i to and from vertical positions for elevating the portion of the guard line bctwcen the supports yieldingly above the surlace of the highway and each post havingr hingcdly connected lower and upper parts '15` whereby the upper parts of both posts when in vertical positions above the highway may be swungr transversely of the trough to the highway by the guard line beingl likewise forced to the highway. a gate on the upper 50 part of each post, and power driven means operative for simultaneously 'raising and lowering' the posts into and out of the trough.

This specification signed and witnessed 95 this 18th day of January A. l). 1924.v

JOHN J. KEENAN.

Witnesses:

Bm'rnion FRIEDMAN, J. FREDERICK CRYER. 

